Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship Application Process
Application details for the Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship
The Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship program recognizes innovative, promising new faculty members from a number of research institutions whose exceptional talent for research and innovation identifies them as emerging leaders in their fields. Learn how to apply for a fellowship.
Schedule
- Nominations open: September 30, 2011, 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time
- Nominations close: October 31, 2011, 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time
- Awards announced: July 2012
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates for the Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship program must be nominated by their research institution, and their nominations must be confirmed by a letter from the head of the institution (for example, office of the Provost, Pro-Vice Chancellor, President, and so on). Direct applications from new faculty members are not accepted.
- No more than one nomination from each research institution will be accepted. An emphasis is placed on nominations from departments working on computing research areas and on areas that involve the innovative application of computing.
- Applications may only be submitted through the online application tool by the application contact designated by the office of the head of the institution. Note: The nomination period closed on October 31, 2011—no more applications will be accepted this year.
- In the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, nominees must hold a tenure-track faculty position, and should have completed their most recent PhD, ScD, or MD in 2005 or later. In Latin America, nominees must hold a permanent faculty position and must have obtained their PhD degree in 2005 or later. In Europe, nominees must have obtained their PhD or equivalent degree more than two years but fewer than eight years prior to their nominations (justified extensions such as maternity leave may be accepted).
- Nominees from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, or Africa must be new faculty members in the first, second, or third year of their first tenure-track faculty appointment. Due to differences in academic career paths in Latin America, it is required that nominees from Latin America be faculty members in a permanent faculty position.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from established researchers familiar with the nominee’s research. Of these letters, one (1) letter of recommendation should come from within the nominating institution, and the other two (2) letters should come from outside the nominating institution. Letters may be submitted electronically with the online application tool.
Application Process
- Applications were accepted only through the online application tool. Note: The nomination period closed on October 31, 2011—no more applications will be accepted this year.
- All application materials should be submitted by the person designated as the application contact by the office of the head of the institution. See the Required Application Information section below for a detailed list of the required application content.
- Applications submitted to Microsoft will not be returned. Microsoft cannot assume responsibility for the confidentiality of information in submitted applications. Therefore, applications should not contain information that is confidential, restricted, or sensitive. Microsoft reserves the right to make public information from applications that receive awards, except those portions containing budgetary or personally identifiable information.
- Due to the volume of submissions, Microsoft Research cannot provide individual feedback on applications that do not receive Fellowship awards.
Required Application Information
Authorized Nominator Information
The authorized nominator acting on behalf of the head of the organization is the person named as the application contact by the head of the institution, and should be a person other than the nominee.
- Institution name
- Name of head of organization
- Authorized nominator name on who is acting on behalf of head of organization
- Primary email address of the nominator
- Primary phone number of the nominator
- Primary mailing address of the nominator
Nominee Information
- Nominee name
- Nominee title
- Nominee department
- Primary email address of the nominee
- Primary phone number of the nominee
- Primary mailing address of the nominee institution
Application Questions
Microsoft Research recognizes that advancing the state of the art takes different forms when working in interdisciplinary research areas. Strong interdisciplinary research is welcomed and will receive due consideration in the review process. Typical questions are listed below.
- What is the innovative merit of the nominee’s research?
- How does the nominee’s work have the potential to advance the state of the art?
- How is the university currently supporting the nominee’s work?
- Does the nominee’s current work receive funding from other grant sources? If yes, please list.
- Provide a statement detailing the hypothesis, objectives, and methodology of the nominee’s research work and plans. Include a brief description of how the award funds would be used.
Application Attachments
- A brief letter from the head of the institution authorizing the application, confirming that the nominee named in the letter is the sole nominee from the institution, and providing the name of a second person who will serve as the application contact on behalf of the university.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from established researchers familiar with the nominee’s research. Of these letters, one (1) letter of recommendation should come from within the nominating institution, and the other two (2) letters should come from outside the nominating institution.
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae.
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